The Republican journal., 1887-01-06
Belfast's Bic Boom.

Our city enters upon the New Year with
every assurance of prosperous future. one
year ago Belfast was ring-rdden, oppressed
by heavy taX-burlens. ard threatened with
their further increase. The causes which oper-
ated against people coming here were driving
out personal property, and this with our
diminishing merchant marine increased the tax
on real estate. There was 10 building in
prospect and even repairing was at stand
still. Thousands of dollars Of the citv's money
had been expended during the preceding four
years for which there was nothing to show,
while all the evils of ring rule We're seen and
felt at every hand. 1t was gloomy outlook
andn wonder that our people We're discouraged
and respondent.
The result of the city election put a new
face Oh affairs. The successful party, as true
to its promises the defeated ring had been
false to the pledges by which it obtained con-
troll, at once reduced taxes nearly fifty per
cent and the poll tax from 50 to 50. The
appropriation for streets and highways was re-
duced and more work has been done for less
money than in the preceding year. The men
employed by the city are paid for their SER
vices in cash and not compelled to take store
pay or submit to a shave Oh their wages. and
our people are given employment and men are
not brought from other towns to work out
private debts. In other departments there is
notable improvement also. The police admin
istration of the precedin" year had been
VIGOROUSLY inefficient, to say nothing more.
The present city marshal is man who does his
whole duty and requires the same of those
under him. The city ordinances have never
been better enforced, and it is generally I'D
mitted that the night watch is the best our
city ever had. That we have within the past
few weeks escaped what might have been two
very disastrous fires is due wholly to their
attention to duty and timely action.
The improvement in our train facilities was
directly due to the change in the control of the
city and railroad, and could not otherwise have
been brought about. The extra trains. with
additional connections east and west and better
mail service, have been greatly appreciated by
the business community and will prove no un-
important factors in the future prosperity of
the place.
The immediate result of the lifting of the
tax burdens which had so long oppressed our
city was to stimulate building, and even those
who had endeavOred to perpetuate the old con-
ditiOn of affairs were not slow to take advan-
tage of the brighter outlook In addition to
the private enterprises, the coming spring will
see work begun on the extension to the custom
house, the public library building and the wa
ter works, involving in all an expenditure of
from $75, 900 to 800 900, while the construction
of a hotel suited to the growing needs of the
city is among the strong probabilities. The
contract for water supply is one of the
things accomplished during the past year
which calls for cOngratulation. 1t will bring
about a reduction Of insurance rates, promote
health, and give to our people a feeling of Sc
curity to which they have been strangers. In
addition to the material advantages of an
abundant water supply, which can hardly be
over estimated from business or sanitary
standpoint, 1t testifes that Belfast has taken
new lease Of life and that progress is to be the
order Of the day. The good effects of the
changes enumerated are already apparent
smoGg our own people. There is a better
feeling everywhere, not wholly due to the
prsn.s.s she future holds forth, but in part to
the saSsfsntisl business success shown in clos
Ing the iaroeunts of the year that has gone.